Grandparent(s) coresidence and physical activity/screen time among Latino children in the United States.

Introduction: Latino Americans tend to have a familismo cultural value, in which grandparents often live with grandchildren and are involved in grandchildren rearing. The purpose of this study was to examine how grandparent(s) coresidence is associated with Latino American children's physical activity and screen time. Methods: This study used 2009-2010 Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) Survey data that consisted of 2,608 Latino students from 5th to 10th grade. Associations between grandparent(s) coresidence and Latino children's physical activity/screen time were examined using logistic regression and generalized ordered logistic regression while controlling for children's sociodemographic variables, health-related variables, and family composition and relationship variables. Results: Grandparent(s) coresidence was associated with higher odds of being physically active for at least 60 min daily in the past 7 days but was not significantly associated with frequency/time of vigorous intensity physical activity. In addition, grandparent(s) coresidence was associated with higher odds of exceeding 2 hr of daily screen time during weekdays and weekend days. Discussion: Interventions aimed at promoting Latino children's physical activity should pay particular attention to use of screen-based media among children living with grandparents. In addition, it may be promising to involve Latino grandparents in promotion of Latino children's physical activity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Impact of a community-based intervention on Latino grandparents' knowledge about and self-efficacy in supporting grandchildren's physical activities.

INTRODUCTION: Latino grandparents are often involved in rearing grandchildren, but their roles in promoting children's physical activity (PA) have been largely overlooked. This study examined the impact of a community-based intervention called Nietos Activos y Saludables (Active and Healthy Grandchildren) on Latino grandparents' knowledge about and self-efficacy in supporting grandchildren's (aged 2-12 years) PA. METHOD: The Spanish language intervention, consisting of 4 weekly sessions, was delivered to 12 Latino grandparents (primarily female, aged > 60 years) in Los Angeles County from October to November 2017. Pre- and posttest surveys and postintervention focus groups assessed the intervention impact. RESULTS: Participants indicated that the intervention provided useful information. After intervention sessions, participants achieved a higher score in test on PA requirements for children. They also reported greater knowledge about children's PA, local resources for children's PA, and modifying children's behavior. Additionally, participants reported greater confidence in motivating children in PA and collaborating with parents in promoting children's PA. Results of focus groups generally confirmed the quantitative findings. DISCUSSION: Nietos Activos y Saludables intervention has the promise to increase Latino grandparents' knowledge about and self-efficacy in supporting grandchildren's PA. Future studies should test the impact of the intervention on grandparents' behavior and grandchildren's health outcomes using a randomized controlled trial. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Promoting Afterschool Quality and Positive Youth Development: Cluster Randomized Trial of the Pax Good Behavior Game.

This randomized trial tested a strategy originally developed for school settings, the Pax Good Behavior Game (PAX GBG), in the new context of afterschool programs. We examined this approach in afterschool since 70% of all juvenile crime occurs between the hours of 3-6 pm, making afterschool an important setting for prevention and promotion. Dual-career and working families need monitoring and supervision for their children in quality settings that are safe and appropriately structured. While substantial work has identified important features of afterschool programs, increasing attention is being given to how to foster quality. PAX GBG, with its focus on shared norms, cooperative teams, contingent activity rewards, and liberal praise, could potentially enhance not only appropriate structure and supportive relationships, but also youth self-regulation, co-regulation, and socio-emotional development. This study examined the PAX GBG among 76 afterschool programs, serving 811 youth ages 5-12, who were diverse in race-ethnicity, socio-economic status, and geographic locale. Demographically matched pairs of afterschool programs were randomized to PAX GBG or treatment-as-usual. Independent observers conducted ratings of implementation fidelity and program quality across time; along with surveys of children's problem and prosocial behavior. Interaction effects were found using hierarchical linear models such that experimental programs evidencing higher implementation fidelity demonstrated better program quality than controls, (i.e., less harshness, increased appropriate structure, support, and engagement), as well as reduced child-reported hyperactivity and intent-to-treat effects on prosocial behavior. This study demonstrates that best practices fostered by PAX GBG and implemented with fidelity in afterschool result in higher quality contexts for positive youth development.

Measuring collective efficacy among children in community-based afterschool programs: exploring pathways toward prevention and positive youth development.

Collective efficacy refers to a perceived sense of connectedness and willingness to intervene among youth, and is a potential aspect of positive youth development (Larson in Am Psychol 55:170-183, 2000; Lerner et al. in Child Dev 71:11-20, 2000; Sampson et al. in Science 277:918-924, 1997). Theoretically, those who feel connected to a group that is empowered to positively influence the behavior of their peers may demonstrate fewer problem behaviors. Few studies, however, have measured the impact of youth perceptions of collective efficacy. As a relatively new child-related research topic, there is much to be learned. One contribution to the foundation of this research agenda begins by evaluating the reliability and validity of a measure of collective efficacy with elementary children attending community-based afterschool programs. This paper describes the internal consistency reliability and various indicators of construct and concurrent validity of the Collective Efficacy Among Children Scale. The measure was found to have high internal consistency reliability. Construct validity was tested using exploratory factor analyses of collective efficacy including the dimensions of willingness to intervene and cohesion found in previous research (Sampson et al. in Science 277:918-924, 1997). Concurrent validity assessed relations between the scale and other measures in theoretically congruent ways. Using Hierarchical Linear Models to account for children's nestedness in after-school programs, connectedness was found to be more related to emotional adjustment, particularly children's prosocial attitudes (caring about others and sharing). Children's perception of the willingness of the group to intervene was found to be related to less problem behavior, (i.e. smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, vandalism, and stealing). The implications suggest that future research should further explore children's collective efficacy, and ways to foster its development in youth-serving afterschool settings.

A Qualitative Assessment of South African Adolescents' Motivations For and Against Substance Use and Sexual Behavior.

Focus groups (N = 15 groups; eight with girls, seven with boys) with adolescents in high schools near Cape Town, South Africa were used to conduct a qualitative investigation of reported reasons for using and not using substances, and for having and not having sex. Adolescents reported Enhancement, Negative States, Social, and Aversive Social motivations for both substance use and sexual behavior. In addition, being addicted as a reason for using drugs and rape as a context for sexual behavior were frequently reported. Motivations against behaviors included Physical/Behavioral Consequences, Ethical Objections, Social Disapproval, and Activities or Future Orientation reasons. Preventive interventions should address existing motivations for and against substance use and sexual behavior to acknowledge adolescents' experiences in context.

The implications of public policy related to parks, recreation, and public health: a focus on physical activity.

A collaborative framework that influences the promotion of policy related to physical activity should include parks and recreation as well as public health practitioners and researchers. As governments at all levels become increasingly focused on the impact of public resources, park and recreation agencies are challenged to document and demonstrate the impact of leisure services. Public policy associated with parks and recreation is driven by public interest and is often debated in the absence of relevant research to demonstrate the determinants and correlates of parks and recreation to address prevailing social conditions. This paper describes current policy and funding issues faced by public parks and recreation professionals responding to increasing physically active leisure across the lifespan of Americans. We also discuss how a collaborative framework approach can be used to inform public policy designed to increase the physical activity of the American public.

Leisure behavior of youth with short stature, delayed puberty and diabetes mellitus.

There is some evidence to suggest that adolescents with endocrinological disorders such as short stature (SS), delayed puberty (DP), or diabetes mellitus (DM) may display significant social or psychological problems. The purpose of our study was to examine the leisure behaviors and experiences of these adolescents. Of the 178 adolescents (all of whom had an endocrinological problem) 83 were male and 91 were female. We found the leisure behaviors and experiences of adolescents with SS, DP and DM (the group) were similar to adolescents with other endocrine disorders (comparison group) and to several other non-clinical groups (controls). The group spent the same amount of time in leisure activity as the comparison group. The characteristics of the group's leisure time in regard to boredom, self-determination, self-competence or parental control was the same as the comparison group and minimally different from the control groups. There were no differences among SS, DP, DM or comparison group in degree to which they were 'bothered' by their condition or the recency of the discovery of their condition. Neither botheredness nor recency were related to leisure time characteristics. Recency of the discovery of their endocrine problem was almost significantly related to increased parental control (p<0.062) which was slightly greater for those diagnosed with SS, DP and DM (p<0.080) than in the comparison group. Leisure time activity and behavior of adolescents with SS, DP, and DM was the same as that in other non-clinical adolescents and adolescents with other endocrine disorders.